Red Sea Undersea Internet Cables Severed — Global Connectivity Plunges Into Crisis

By The Blogging Hounds A major disruption to global internet traffic has been reported after two critical undersea cable systems in the Red Sea were severed, sending shockwaves across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Connectivity issues are affecting India, Pakistan, the UAE, Kuwait, and other regions dependent on the vital SMW4 and IMEWE cable…

By The Blogging Hounds

A major disruption to global internet traffic has been reported after two critical undersea cable systems in the Red Sea were severed, sending shockwaves across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Connectivity issues are affecting India, Pakistan, the UAE, Kuwait, and other regions dependent on the vital SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems.

Red Sea Cable Outages: What Happened
According to reports, the outages began on September 6, 2025, near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The SMW4 (South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4) system, operated by Tata Communications, and the IMEWE (India-Middle East-Western Europe) cable, managed by a consortium overseen by Alcatel Submarine Networks, both sustained damage. Kuwait confirmed that its FALCON GCX cable was also impacted.

The cause of the cuts remains unclear, though speculation points to potential sabotage. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have denied responsibility, despite repeated links to attacks in the region, particularly against shipping lanes and infrastructure supporting Hamas.

“The timing and scale of the outage is alarming,” noted cybersecurity experts. “Losing just one of these long-haul pathways can overload alternative routes, spike latency, and disrupt cloud services for companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft.”

Potential Sabotage or Accidental Damage?
While sabotage remains a prime theory, other explanations exist. Ships dragging anchors or natural underwater events could accidentally sever cables. Breitbart highlighted, however, that since Hamas launched the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, fears of retaliatory strikes on Red Sea cables have grown. The Houthis have a known track record of drone and missile attacks in the region.

“This is not just a minor disruption — these cables are lifelines for consumer internet, hyperscalers, and international commerce,” explained Tom’s Hardware. “Loss of connectivity affects not only everyday users but entire cloud-dependent business operations.”

Global Impact Already Felt
Microsoft Azure has reported slower latency for traffic passing through the Red Sea corridor, though services remain operational. Experts warn that internet coverage in the Emirates could remain degraded for up to six weeks, as specialized ships locate, lift, splice, and test damaged cables before full service is restored.

Dr. Sarath Raj, project director at Amity University in Dubai, said:
“Repairing these cables is not a quick process. Depending on the fault location, weather, and ship availability, restoration can take anywhere from two to six weeks.”

The Bigger Picture: Geopolitical Implications
With global tension in the Middle East escalating and the ongoing Gaza conflict, critical infrastructure is now a potential target. Analysts warn that attacks on undersea cables could escalate beyond regional disruptions, affecting financial systems, military communications, and international trade.

This Red Sea incident is a stark reminder that the world’s digital lifelines remain vulnerable, and that geopolitics, terrorism, and infrastructure are inextricably linked in the 21st century.

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